Rate of flow telemetering actuator



April 1943- s. L. ADELSON 2,439,121

RATE OF FLOW TELEMETERING ACTUATOR Filed Nov. 26, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR. ficzmuegl l ldaLaozz Ap 6, 1948. s. ADELSON RATE OF FLOWTELEMETERING ACTUATOR Filed Nov. 26, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Samuel [Hf/75012 Patented Apr. 6, 1948 RATE OF FLOW TELEMETERINGACTUATOR Samuel L. Adelson, Chicago, Ill., asslgnor to InlllcoIncorporated, Chicago, 111., a corporatlon of Delaware ApplicationNovember 26, 1945, Serial No. 630,896

Claims. (01. 318-445) This invention relates to a telemetering apparatuswhich controls the rate at which a machine performs its functions fromthe rate at which fluid flows through a conduit.

An object of this invention is to provide an apparatus controlling theapplication of power to a machine automatically in proportion to theflow of fluid to a conduit.

Another object of this invention is to provide for automaticallycontrolling the operation of a chemical feeder in such a manner that itdischarges a chemical proportionately to the flow'of liquid to betreated-the rate of discharge of the chemical feeder being proportionalto the rate of flow of liquid through a conduit. i

A still further object of this invention is to provide an improvedteiemetric transmitter pro- 1 viding an impulse of a length directlyproportional to the flow of fluid through a conduit.

Another object of this invention is to provide a means of closing afirst circuit at regular intervals and closing a second circuit at atime interval after the closing of the first circuit proportional to therate of flow of fluid through a conduit.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an operatingcircuit for a machine which is closed at regular intervals and remainsclosed for a length of time proportional to the rate of flow of fluidthrough a conduit.

Another object of my invention is to provide a hydraulic actuatoroperated by differences in pressure of fluid in a conduit, the actuatorcontaining no stumng boxes such as heretofore used which result in lossof sensitivity oi the apparatus.

While my invention is not limited to controlling the operation of themotor of a chemical feeder (and thus the discharge of chemical into afluid being treated) proportional to the rate of flow of such fluid, itis particularly adapted for such purpose. The invention will thereforebe described in connection with the operation of a motor driven chemicalfeeder proportional to the flow of water, whereby a constant dosing ofthe water is maintained in spite of variations in the flow of thewater.

Briefly, my invention comprises means whereby an electric circuit ismomentarily closed at regular intervals, the closing of which circuitautomatically starts the delivery of electric power to some machine (forexample, delivering electric power to a motor driving a chemical feeder)and means whereby a second electrical circuit is momentarily closed toterminate the delivery of 2 power to the machine, the closing of thesecond circuit being spaced from the closing of the first circuit a timeinterval proportional to the rate of flow of a liquid through a conduit.Since, in the example, the chemical discharged by the feeder isproportional to the time the feeder functions, 1. e. to the intervalbetween the closing of the two circuits, the discharge of the feedor isproportional to the flow rate of the liquid.

My invention will be more readily understood by reference to thedrawings which form a part hereof and in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of the apparatus of my invention shown inposition in relation to a pressure creating device, such as a Venturitube.

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional side view of the actuator shown inFigure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged isometric view of the actuator mechanism of myinvention, with cover removed.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic wiring diagram showing the connection of theactuator of my invention to two motors, such as might drive two chemicalfeeders.

Figure 1 shows a conduit I0, adapted for carrying a flow of fluid, suchas water. The conduit it includes a differential pressure creatingdevice, such as the Venturi tube ll. As is well known in the art, thepressure at the inlet l2 of the Venturi tube II is greater than the presure at the throat 83 thereof, the pressure differential thus createdvarying as the square of the rate of flow therethrough. A manometer iii(comprising a high pressure chamber 85. and a low pressure chamber it,which are connected one with another through a conduit ii) is connectedto the Venturi tube ii in the usual manner. As is customary, a pressureconduit 18 leads from the inlet it of the Venturi tube II to the highpressure chamber i5 of the manometer, and a low pressure conduit I 9leads from the throat l3 of the Venturi tube to the low pressure chamber16 of the manometer. A drain 20 can be placed in the manometer, such asat the bottom of the low pressure chamber i 6, for removal of manometricfluid 2|, such as mercury, therefrom. The high pressure chamber or legi5 of the manometer is enlarged at its upper portion to form an actuatorcasing 22 which contains part of the mechanism of my invention. Thecasing is provided with a face 23 (Figure 2) and some of the mechanismof my invention is mounted on. the outside of the face. To protect suchparts I prefer to provide a transparent and removable cover 24, held inplace by any suitable thickness.

. A 3 neanssuch as threaded rods 23 and wing bolts 2 The operation of amanometer is well known and It, being the same at zero flow. When fluidflows through the conduit l and Venturi tube I i a pressure diflerentialexists between the inlet l2 and throat I3 of the Venturi tube, thepressure at the inlet being greater than that at the throat. Thesepressures are communicated to the two legs of the manometer, causing themercury in the high pressure leg- IE to lower, and the level of themercury in the low pressure leg It to rise, the difference in levelsfrom the datum,

that I provide a -iloat 33. adapted to ride on the mercury. or othermanometric fluid. in the high pressure leg It. It is preferred that thelevel of the mercury 2! in the manometer at the datum, or zero flow,position be in the lower portion of the high pressure leg i 8 as shown.Extending upwardly from the float {it is a link at which extends to anintermediate elevation ofthe casing 22. The face 23, of the casing 22,is formed of non-magnetic material of suitable In the interior of thecasing, 22 is a bracket 32 placed at one side of the casing, as shown inFigure 3. The bracket 32 supports a freely rotatable spindle 33 on whichis mounted an arm, or lever 34. The free end of the float link ti ispivotally attached to the arm 34, as by means of yoke 35 and pin 36. Atthe free end of the arm 34 is aflixed a permanent magnet 31! of.suitable physical characteristics.

It will be obvious that when there is no flow through the conduit III ofFigure 1, the mercury levels in the high pressure leg I! and lowpressure leg it of the manometer will be in the same plane, and the arm34 will assume its highest, or zero flow, position. As the flowincreases the level of mercury 2| in the float chamber l will drop adistance proportional to the difference in pressure between the inlet l2and throat E3 of the Venturi tube. Thus at any rate of flow the float 30will have lowered a definite distance and this will move the arm 34through a definite angle from its zero flow position. Obviously, as therate of flow through the conduit iii varies, the angular position of thearm 34 will vary accordingly.

A spindle 40 is fixed to the exterior of face 23 by any suitable means,such as bracket 4 l-'-the spindle 40 being aligned axially with theinner spindle 33 on which the inner arm 34 is mounted. Mounted on thisouter spindle 40 is an arm 42 of a total length corresponding to thelength of arm 34. Preferably the arm 42 will have a 4 spindle 40, equalto the distance between thespindle 33 and the magnet 3'! of the innerassembly. The complete assembly constitutes a magnet operated switchwhich is closed when the outer arm 42 is parallel to the inner arm 34.

The outer magnet 43 has its poles reversed in relation to the innermagnet, as shown by the letters N" and S in Figure 3, so that the twomagnets attract each other. Thus, when the two magnets are at adjacentlocations on opposite sides of the non-magnetic-face 23, the outermagnet 48 is pulled towards the face to bring the contacts 44' and 41together and close the magnetic switch on the outside of the manometer.Wires 48 and 50 connect the contact strips 43 and 46, respectively, toopposed contacts I25 and I24 of a relay I20, hereafter described.

A synchronous motor 63 is mounted on the outside of hte non-magneticface 23 by any suitable means, such as bracket 64. The motor 63preferably has a built-in speed reducer 65 which drives a shaft 63 at a,slow speed such as one-half to one revolution per minute. Mounted on theshaft 66 is the square root cam 60. The outside arm 52 is also providedwith a pin 5| on which is rotatably mounted a roller 52 riding on theedge of the square root cam 'tii. The cam is provided with the pin 62 onwhich is mounted roller ti that once in each revolution of the cam 6tcomes in contact with a projection 53 of the outer a :32 to lift the arm52 rapidly to its highest position, and then lower the arm 62 so thatthe roller 52 again. contacts the cam a short distance ahead of the zerotime position of the outer The cam (it also is provided with a pin 6'?which is adapted to come into engagement with the roller it of a singlepole, double throw switch it, adjustably mounted on the outside of theface 23. Preferably the switch it is of a; well known manufacture, knownas a micro switch, and which has no oil position. That is, when the pinBl is not in engagement with the roller 76, the pole ill (see Figure 4)of the switch is in contact with one of the terminals 78, and when thepin is enaged with this roller, the pole is in contact with the otherterminal, 19. The pin Bl is so located on the cam 60 that the pin 61contacts the roller 16 0f the micro-switch 75 when the arm 42 reachesits zero time position on its downward travel.

The motor 63 and the cam 60 rotate at a constant speed and the roller52, following the contour of cam 30, will cause the outer arm 42, tooscillate about the shaft to, through a definite angle, its highestposition being slightly above the zero position of arm 34 and its lowestposition being below the position of the inner arm 34 at periods ofhighest designed flow. As indicated above, when the arm 42 reaches itszero time position the pin 67 momentarily engages the roller 16 of themicro switch E5 to momentarily close one circuit and to open another.These circuits will be referred to in the discussion of Figure 4. Whenthe arm 42 reaches its lowest position, roller 6! of the cam 60 engagesthe projection 53, on the arm 42 to eflect a quick return of arm 42 toits highest position. The rate of downward travel of the arm 42 is ofimportance, and this is governed by the contour of the cam 60. The rateof upward travel of arm 42 is not important so long as it requires arelatively short time of gravel from its lowermost to its uppermostposi- It is well known by those versed in the art that square of theflow. Accordingly the cam 60 must I .be what is known as a "square rootcam, that is, the cam-is so shaped that the angular movement downward ofarm 42 will vary as the square of the angular movement of the cam. Theangular position of the arm 34, measured from its zero position, willvary as the square of the flow. It is necessar that the interval betweenthe momentary contact of the micro-switch I5 and contact between thepoints 44 and 41 previously referred to, shall be proportional to theflow. Thus, the contour of the cam is such that the downward angularmovement of the outer arm 42 will vary as the square of the time,measured from the instant it begins its downward travel.

Assuming that because of a certain flow rate through the conduit I0, theinner arm 34 is at a certain position below the zero flow position. Whenthe outer arm 42 reaches its zero time position in its downwardmovement, pin 61 on cam 60 will engage the roller I6 of the micro switch15 to open one circuit and close another. When this pin 61 passes out ofengagement with the roller I6, the switch I will assume its originalposition. In its downward travel the magnet 48, affixed to the outer arm42, will come within the magnetic field of the inner magnet 31. Sincethe pole faces of the magnets are oppositely disposed, the outer magnet48 will move towards the inner magnet 31 and cause the two contactpoints 44 and 4! to come in contact. This will cause closure 01' acircuit later to be described in detail. which includes conductor 49,contact strip 43, contact 44, contact 41, contact strip 46 and conductor50.

The wiring diagram connecting the actuator mechanism just described andthe machine to be operated. is shown dia rammatically in Figure 4. Forpurposes of illustration the wiring diagram is shown as controlling theoperation of two motors. I00 and I00a, remotely located from theactuator mechanism of my invention. Motors I00 and I00a are suppliedwith power from lines La and L4. The flow of power to each of the motorsis controlled by a three wire control type relay MI and IOIa,respectively. preferably mounted directly on the motors. The two relaysIN and IOIa are identical and are connected in parallel to the actuatormechanism, so that for purposes of simplification the referencecharacters will be ap lied only to the relay I0 I. It is believed obvous that the number of machines to be controlled may vary to any desirednumber so long as the machines are controlled by a single actuator.

A branch line IIO leads from source of alternating current power L2 topole P1 of the primary of a low volta e secondary transformer I I I. Lowvoltage is used because the contacts 44 and 4! are exposed. The otherpole P2 of the primary of transformer III is connected by wire I I2 tothe contact 18 of the micro switch I5. The other contact IQ of the microswitch I5 is connected by wire II3 to conductor I33 to be describedhereafter. The movable pole I! of the micro switch I5 is connected bywire II4 to source of power Li.

A conductor I2I leads from secondary terminal P3 of the transformer I II to coil I22 of a two pole relay I20 and thence by conductor I23 tocontact I24 of the relay. A second wire I34 leads from the secondaryterminal P4 of transformer II I to contact I25 of the relay I20. Aspreviously indicated, the wire 49 leads from the contact strip 43 tocontact I25; and the wire 50 leads from the contact strip 45 to contactI24. Associated with the coil I22 is a core I25 having contact strips orbridges I21 and I28. When the coil I22 is energized, thus raising thecore I25. contact strip I21 will connect contacts I28 and I30, to whichare connected wires Ill and I32 respectively. Line I3I is connected tolines H3 and I33 as shown.

Conductor I32 is connected to another conductor'l40, which leads tobinding post I4I of the relay IM and line I33 is connected to conductorI42, which leads to contact I43, of the relay IOI. Contact I43 and postI are connected to each other through wire I44 and coil I45 of therelay. Conductor I46 leads from source of power L1 to conductor I" whichterminates at contact I48 of the relay IN. The core I49 associated withthe coil I45 is provided with two poles I50 and I5I. Pole I50 engagesthe contacts I43 and'I48 when the coil is energized to lift the coreI49. The other pole I5I engages contacts I52 and I53 when the coil I45is energized to lift the core I49. Contact I52 is connected to powerline L; and contact I53 is connected by conductor I54 to the motor I00.A conductor I55 leads from source of power L2 through resistor I55 tobinding post I4I of relay IN.

The motor 53 which carries the cam is, as shown, connected directlyacross lines L1 and L2 and thus rotates continuously. Immediately beforethe arm 42 has reached its uppermost position in its upward direction oftravel, the switch 15 and the relay I20 are in the position shown inFigure 4, and the contacts 44 and 41 will be separated and the relay IOIwill be de-energized as shown in the drawing. At this point the motorsI00 are stopped. At the instant the arm 42 reaches its zero timeposition moving downward, the pin '51 on cam 50 (Figure 2 or 3) willengage the roller 16 of the switch I5 and the pole 'I'I will engage thepost I8. This will complete a momentary circuit from L1 throughconductor -I I4, pole II of the switch 15, contact I8, line II3,conductors I33, I42 and I44, coil I45 of the relay IOI, binding post I,resistor I58, and conductor I55 back to L2. Thus the coil I45 will beenergized and pole |5I will bridge contacts I52 and I53 of relay IN tostart the motor I00, which secures its power from the source of power Inand L4. At the same instant, pole I50 will bridge contacts I43 and I48of relay IM to close a second circuit which begins with source of powerLi and leads through conductors I46 and I41, contact I48, pole I50,contact I43, conductor I44, coil I45, resistor I56, and conductor I55back to L2. This second circuit comprises a holding circuit which holdsthe relay closed after the momentary contact between the pole TI and thecontact 19 of the micro switch I5. The motor I00 therefore continues torun. It is obvious that operation of the motor I00 has been initiated bythe momentary contact in the micro switch 15, between the pole TI andthe contact I9 and continues even after the first circuit is broken.

In the continued downward movement of arm 42 and magnet 48, the latterwill reach the field of attraction of the inner magnet 31 on arm 34(which as already indicated, has a position corresponding to the flowrate) and the outer magnet 48 will then be attracted by the inner magnet31 and contact will be made between contacts 41 and 44. This willcomplete a circuit from seccndary pole P4 of the transformer III throughconductors I34 and 49, contact strip 43, contacts 44 and 41, flexiblecontact strip 46, conductors g 7 5B and I22, coll I22 and conductor IZIto the secondary pole Pro! the transformer. This circuit obviouslyenergizes coil I22 to raise the core I26. The pole I21 will thereuponcome in contact with the contacts I2! and III! and the pole I28 willcontact the contacts I 24 and I25. This action of the relay I20initiates a third circuit beginning at post P4 of the transformer III,through conductor Ill, pole I28, conductor I28, coil I22; and conductorI2I back to post Pa the transformer. At the same time the bridging ofcontacts I29 and I30 by the pole I21, short circuits coil I45 of therelay 'IOI as follows: From contact I43 of relay I Ill throughconductors I42, I 22 and I3I, contact I29 oi. relay I20, pole I2'Icontact I30, and conductors I32 and I40 to post "I of relay II- therebyshort circuiting coil I45. Resistance in this short circuiting circuitis oi very low value compared to the impedance of the coil, I45, so thecoil is short-circuited. Thus the relay IIII is de-energized and thecontacts-I52 and I53 are unbridged, stopping the motor I00.

In the movement of the arm 42 from its lowermost position towards itshighest position, the outer magnet 48 will again come within the fieldof attraction of magnet 31, again effecting closure of the contacts 43and 48. This closing at this point, however, will not affect thecondition of the circuits in their then existing condition since relay I20 is held closed by the interlocking, or holding, circuit abovedescribed which leads from the transformer I I I, through conductor I34,pole I28, coil I22 and conductor I2I back to the transformer. However,when the arm 42 reaches its uppermost position and begins its downwardtravel, the pin 81 again contacts the roller 16 of the micro switch 15to first break the contact between pole 1'1 and contact 18 of the microswitch. This will break the circuit of the transformer I II therebyremoving power from its secondary coil and de-energize coil I22 of therelay I20, thus opening all of the contacts of the relay. When the pole77 engages the contact I9, it will close the relay IM to start a newcycle as outlined above.

It is thus seen that the momentary closure between the pole I1 and thecontact 79 of the micro switch I5 starts the motor I00, and themomentary closure of the contacts 4'4 and 41 stops the motor I00 thusgiving a length of operation of the motor corresponding directly to therate of fiow of fluid through the conduit I0.

Manifestly, many modifications and variations of the invention hereinset forth may be made by persons skilled in the art without departingfrom the spirit and scope thereof. Accordingly the appended claims areto be given an interpretation commensurate with the novelty hereindescribed and as broad as may be permitted by prior art. It will also beunderstood that although the present invention has been described asrelating to the control of chemical feeders associated with a liquidtreating plant, it is not to be construed as limited thereto.

I claim:

1. Apparatus of the type described comprising a manometer, a magnetpositioned by level of a manometric liquid in said manometer, a movablenormally open magnet operated switch outside of said manometer, means tocyclically move said magnet operated switch along a path parallel to thepotential path oi travel of said first magnet, and a switch deviceoperative to close a starting circuit at a predetermined position ofsaid magnet operated switch.

2. An actuator adapted to provide operation of a motor for a period oftime proportional to the rate of flow through a conduit comprising amanometer adapted to hold a manometric fluid, a fioat adapted to ride onsaid manometric fluid, a lever connected to said float, a magnet on thefree end of said lever, a lever on the outside of said manometercoaxially fulcrumed with said first mentioned lever, a normally openmagnetically operated switch carried on the free end of said lever, aconstant speed motor, a cam driven by said motor, said cam being soconstructed and arranged as to move said second lever in one directionduring a relatively small portion of one rotation of said cam and tomove said second lever in the other direction at a predetermined rateduring a relatively large portion of such r0- tation, and a switchoperated by said cam to temporarily open one circuit and close anotherat the time when the second lever is at its zero time position.

3. A rate of flow telemetering device adapted to provide an impulse of atime duration directly proportional to the rate of flow comprising amanometer, a magnet on the interior of said manometer adapted to bepositioned by level of a manometric liquid therein, a movable normallyopen magnet operated switch outside of said manometer, means tocyclically move said magnet operated switch along a path parallel to thepotential travel of said first magnet, a switch device operative tomomentarily close a circuit at a predetermined position of said movablemagnetic switch, an electric motor, a power circuit to said motor, arelay in said circuit, said relay being connected to said switch devicein such a manner that it is actuated upon the momentary closing of saidswitch device to close said power circuit, a holding circuit connectedto said relay in such a manner as to hold it in a closed position andthereby maintain said power circuit closed, and a third circuitconnecting said magnetically operated switch to said relay and adaptedto open said relay tobreak said power circuit upon closing of themagnetic switch.

4. An actuator of the class described comprising a manometer adapted tohold a manometric fluid, a float adapted to ride on said manometricfluid, a lever connected to said float, a magnet on the free end of saidlever, a lever on the outside of said manometer coaxially iulcrumed withsaid first mentioned lever, a normally open magneticalIy operated switchcarried on the free end of said lever, a constant speed motor, a camdriven by said motor, said cam being so constructed when the secondlever is at its zero time position,

an electric motor, a power circuit to said motor, a relay in saidcircuit, said relay being actuated upon the momentary closing of saidfirst circuit to close said power circuit, a holding circuit holdingsaid relay in a closed position, and another circuit being closed bysaid magnetically operated switch and adapted to break said holdingcircuit and open said relay, thereby breaking said power circuit uponclosing of the magnetic switch.

5. A rate of flow telemetering device adapted to provide an impulse of atime duration proportional to the rate of flow through a conduitcomprising a motor to be operated, a power circuit connected to saidmotor, a relay in said power circuit,

means to energize said relay at the beginning of a fixed time cycle, aholding circuit to maintain said relay in said closed position, a shortcircuiting circuit adapted to deenergize said relay, a normally openswitch in said short circuiting circuit, and switch closing means forclosing said open switch at an interval after the closing of the powercircuit proportional to the rate of flow through the conduit.

6. A rate of flow telemetering device adapted to provide an impulse of atime duration directly proportional to the rate of flow through aconduit comprising a motor to be operated, a power circuit connected tosaid motor, a relay in said power circuit, means to energize said relayat fixed time intervals, a holding circuit to maintain said relay insaid closed position, a short circuiting circuit adapted to de-energizesaid relay, and means proportional to the rate of flow of liquid througha conduit for opening said holding circuit at an interval after theclosing of the first mentioned circuit proportional to the rate of flowthrough the conduit, said means including a manometer, a magnet in saidmanometer positioned by the level of manometric fluid in said manometer,a

magnetically operated switch outside said manometer, said shortcircuiting circuit being closed by said magnetically operated switch,and means cyclically moving said magnetic switch along a path parallelto the potential travel of said first magnet.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said means for moving said magneticswitch travels a distance in one direction which is proportional to thesquare of the time it has traveled in that rection from the beginning oia cycle.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said means for moving said magneticswitch travels a distance in a downward direction which is proportionalto the square of the time of its downward 453 travel from the zero timeposition and wherein said relay is energized when said magnetic switchis at the zero position of said magnet.

9. In a flow system including a conduit, 2. pressure diilerentialcreating device in said conduit and a motor to be cyclically operatedfor a period of time corresponding to the rate of flow through saidconduit, the combination with said pressure differential creating deviceand said motor or a manometer connected to said pressure differential 50creating device, a magnet in said manometer ositioned by the level offluid therein, a relay controlling operation of said motor, means toperiodically energize said relay, a holding circuit for said relay, amagnetically operated switch outside said manometer, means including acam for cyclically moving said magnetic switch at a predetermined ratealong a path parallel to potential movement of said magnet inside saidmanometer and then rapidly returning it to a starting position, and ashort circuiting circuit connected to said relay and so constructed andarranged as to be closed upon the closing of said magnetically operatedswitch and adapted to break said holding circuit.

10. In a flow system including a conduit, a pressure difierentialcreating device in said conduit and a motor to be cyclically operatedfor a period of time corresponding to the rate of flow through saidconduit, the combination with said pressure difierential creating deviceand said motor of a manometer connected to said pressure difierentialcreating device, a magnet in said manometer positioned by the level offluid therein, a movable normally open magnet operated switch outside ofsaid manometer, means to cyclically move said magnet operated switchalong a path parallel to the potential travel of said first magnet, arelay controlling operation of said motor, an energizing circuit forsaid relay, a switch device in said energizing circuit momentarilyclosed at a predetermined position of said magnetic switch, a holdingcircuit for said relay for holding said relay closed after theenergization thereof, a short circuiting circuit adapted to de-energizesaid relay and so constructed and arranged as to be closed upon theclosing of said magnetically operated switch.

SAMUEL L. ADELSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file orthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

